Welcome back to the Mastermind Alliance Spotlight! One of the ways we love supporting small businesses is throughthe Mastermind Alliance Spotlight, where we feature standout spaces and founders doing incredible work in our community. Sometimes these spotlights will come to life through a blog, and other times through a video interview, so stay tuned and help us support small businesses.
Mastermind Alliance Spotlight: More Than Coffee at Mountain Perk
For this spotlight we present you an interview by Lilian Brooks with Lance & Hannah Bryant, owners of Mountain Perk in Stone Mountain. What started as a vision for great coffee quickly became something much bigger, a place where people can gather, connect, and build relationships. We loved hearing the story behind Mountain Perk and learning more about their journey, their passion, and their heart for the local area.
Lilian: Thank you Lance & Hannah for taking the time to share with us about you and Mountain Perk. Can you start by telling us a little about yourselves and how Mountain Perk came to life.
Lance & Hannah: We are Hannah and Lance Bryant. We are the proud parents of 2 boys; 12 and 7 (Ashe and River). We live in Lilburn Georgia since 2021. Hannah is also a realtor and I am a photographer/videographer.
When we moved to Lilburn, specifically the Mountain Park area, we saw the need for a place for good coffee and community to come together and gather. We both grew up in small towns and during our time living in Midtown, Decatur, and Tucker, we missed that community vibe. We have both been coffee lovers for years, always chasing down the best espresso and coffee beans across the city. We wanted to give our community a place to gather, and coffee provides that opportunity.
We started looking for places to put Mountain Perk and nothing really felt like the right fit until one day we decided to pitch the idea to Mountain Park United Methodist Church and ask if they would allow us to build an open-air stand in the parking lot. As good fortune would have it, they said, “We love that idea, but would you rather be inside? We own the house back there and have been looking for a reason to renovate it.” PERFECT! So off we went.
Lilian: I’m sure there were some challenges along the way. What was one of the toughest parts of getting Mountain Perk off the ground?
Lance & Hannah: This was the toughest time of the experience. We were so eager, but the house needed lots of work and permitting is not that easy. But we stayed steadfast and made it through.
Lilian: The place is beautiful so I'd say it was worth it. Now, as we know a place is not just about the look but also the experience. When people walk into Mountain Perk, what kind of experience are you hoping they feel?
Lance & Hannah: At Mountain Perk, we want to create a community hub, a place to exchange stories, meet up with friends, work, and just gather as a community. We strive to know you and create hospitality, not just transactional exchanges.
We always had the vision of hosting events, book clubs, meetups, and providing opportunities for people to see what a wonderful set of humans exist in this community. We love continuing to get to know this community and the relationships that grow out of it.
Lilian: You know, we have visited Mountain Perk a couple of times, with friends at first and then for business with our Coffee Grind meet up we host for members of the Mastermind Alliance, and every time we've come we've received the 5 stars costumer service. So, trust me when I say you guys are making a big positive impact in the community.A lot of people probably don’t realize how much work goes into running a coffee shop. What have you learned through the process?
Lance & Hannah: There is an old saying: if it was easy everyone would do it. While running a business that you love and are passionate about is not “hard,” it is certainly consistent and a perpetual lifestyle. We are so fortunate to have a wonderful team, partners, and supporting community that makes it never feel like work.
Lilian: I love that, and I agree with you consistency and love for what you do is definitely necessary to run a business. On that note, what advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business?
Lance & Hannah: If you are looking to start your own business in Georgia, I say go for it. I am a proponent of the freedom that comes from owning your own business and doing your own venture, but I believe it has to be something you have a true passion for so that it never feels like work, but more like a calling and a gift you are providing to your community.
Lilian: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Mountain Perk andhow can the Mastermind Alliance continue supporting you and Mountain Perk?
Lance & Hannah: We are so excited for the next 3–5 years. We have been able to get Mountain Perk up and running and are now looking to expand our community involvement and continue providing a safe space for more and more people in our community. Everyone deserves good coffee and community.
We appreciate the Mastermind joining us and look forward to fostering this relationship for ongoing meetups.
Lilian: We are excited for you guys. Thank you for your time again.
To our readers we encourage you to come visit Mountain Perk and support them. Be sure to also follow them on social media to stay up to date on any events they have coming up.
Show Mountain Perk some love!
Address: 1362 Pine Cir, Stone Mountain, GA 30087